By Ossoliński National Institute
dr Piotr Sroka (Departments of Periodicals, the National Ossoliński Institut)
Ruins of Bolko’s Castle, Lower Schlesien (1882/1882) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
"Tygodnik Ilustrowany"
Founded in Warsaw in 1859 by Józef Unger, was a leading and widely read Polish cultural and social periodical of the Positivist era.
Among the woodcuts published there between 1875 and 1884, there are about a dozen views of Lower Silesian castles and their descriptions. Here are some of them.
Ruins of Bolcze castle, Lower Schlesien (1882/1882) by K.PiastOssoliński National Institute
Bolczow
Located in the Rudawy Janowickie, the castle was built in the 1470s by Cleric Bolcz, the then owner of this mineral-rich area. It was burnt down during the Thirty Years’ War and subsequently fell into ruins.
In the 19th century, it was partially reconstructed by order of the then owner, Count von Stolberg-Wernigerode, and became a popular tourist attraction. “Legend holds that the castle cellars conceal vast treasures of untold wealth”, wrote “Tygodnik” in 1882.
Ruins of Bolko’s Castle, Lower Schlesien (1882/1882) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
Bolków
First mentioned in 1277, the ducal castle took over the administrative functions from nearby Świny. In the 14th century, it housed the treasury of the Schweidnitz-Jauer Duchy. From the 16th century, it was in private hands.
In 1647 it was conquered and destroyed by the Swedish army. From 1703 to 1810 the castle was owned by the Krzeszów Cistercians. Since the time when the monastery held possession, all endeavours of restoration were forsaken.
Ruins of Kynast Castle, Prussian Schlesien (1884/1884) by Julia KrajewskaOssoliński National Institute
Chojnik
Erected most probably in the mid-14th century by Duke Bolko II of Świdnica, it was first mentioned in the sources in 1364. Soon it became the property of Gotsche Schoff II – the progenitor of the famous Schaffgotsch family.
Extended several times, it was abandoned after a fire in 1675 and soon became a “must-see” destination for visitors to Cieplice. We can learn what feelings could have accompanied a visit by reading the “Tygodnik” of 1884.
Ruins of Kynast Castle, Prussian Schlesien (1884/1884) by Józefa KleczeńskaOssoliński National Institute
“Gloomy thoughts arise at the sight of the ruins, for they present a stark picture of destruction. Yet, on the other hand, their beauty and grandeur justly evoke admiration and reverence for the epochs long past”.
Caychow Castle, in Southern Lusatia (1881/1881) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
Czocha
Probably established in the second half of the 13th century on the site of an earlier fortification. From 1346 it became a fief of the King of Bohemia. From the mid-15th century until the early 20th century it was owned by the von Nostitz and von Uechtritz families.
In 1909, Czocha was bought by Ernst Gütschow, a wealthy tobacco industrialist, who had the castle rebuilt in the medieval style. The building has remained in this form to the present day.
Caychow Castle Tower (1881/1881) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
Czocha
“This old, fortified, romantic castle rises upon a granite rock, approximately hundred ells in height, on the bank of the River Queisu, about half a mile from the town of Marklissa. In bygone eras, it stood as the largest and most fortified stronghold in the southern reaches of Lusatia"
Castle in Grodziec in Schlesien (1881/1881) by Feliks BrzozowskiOssoliński National Institute
Grodziec
Castellany mentioned in a papal bull of 1155. First a ducal seat, and a knight’s property between 1320 and 1470, Grodziec was later bought by the Duke of Legnica. Rebuilt in the 16th century, the castle was destroyed during the Thirty Years’ War.
“The work of destruction was executed in such a manner that, of all the edifices, only the palace endured, which once served as a knight’s dwelling”– reported “Tygodnik” in 1881. 25 years later, the castle underwent extensive reconstruction.
General view of Greiffenstein in Prussian Schlesien (1881/1881) by Józef JarmużyńskiOssoliński National Institute
Gryf
It is traditionally held that the castle was erected by Boleslaw the Tall in 1198. The first verifiable account of the castle dates to 1254. From the late 14th century until 1945, it was the possession of the Schaffgotsch family.
Ruins of a castle in Greiffenstein in Prussian Schlesien (1881/1881) by Józef JarmużyńskiOssoliński National Institute
“In one of the most beautiful areas of Lower Schlesien, the ruins of Greiffenstein Castle stand on a basalt outcrop. From there […] one can observe the entirety of the Giant Mountains including the peak of Śnieżka”- wrote "Tygodnik" in 1881.
Former Piast Castle in Lignica (1875/1875) by UnknownOssoliński National Institute
Legnica
Today’s Legnica Castle, rebuilt and reconstructed several times, conceals the remains of the oldest edifice of its kind within the Polish lands. For centuries, it stood as the centre of ducal power in this part of Silesia, which was ruled by the Piast dynasty.
A testament to the building’s former splendour is the Renaissance portal, as described in “Tygodnik” of 1875: “This monument of ancient architecture, [...] is nonetheless worthy of the researcher’s attention”.
Falkenberg, Prussian Schlesien (1882/1882) by Julia KrajewskaOssoliński National Institute
Sokolec and Karpniki
“Near the village of Fischbach, not far from the Giant Mountains, rise two mountains, called twins for similarity, the first of which is called Falkenberg and the second Forstberg”.
"There once stood the castle of Falkenstein, of which very little remains today” wrote “Tygodnik” in 1882. The castle was first mentioned in 1364 as the property of prince Bolko II. By the end of the 15th century, it lay in ruins.
Karpniki
In contrast, the castle in Karpniki (German: Fischbach), also depicted in the drawing, has endured throughout the ages. Built in the 14th century, it acquired its present neo-Gothic form in 1846.
Ruins of Świny Castle (Schweinhaus) in Lower Schlesien (1882/1882) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
Swiny
The seat of a castellany mentioned as early as 1108, Świny passed into private hands before 1277and became the seat of the von Schweinichen family. Rebuilt in Renaissance style, the castle was plundered during the Seven Years’ War and, since then, it fell into disrepair.
“As late as 1820, the major part of the building was still under the roof. Today, however, everything is unroofed and it is sincerely to be regretted that the castle has been destroyed in more recent times” - wrote "Tygodnik" in 1882.
Wleń Castle Ruins (Lähnhaus) in Prussian Schlesien (1882/1882) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
Wlen
The oldest section of the present castle was erected in the late 12th century. Besieged unsuccessfully by the Hussites in 1428 and by the army of King Matthias Corvinus 50 years later, it was eventually destroyed at the end of the Thirty Years’ War.
Tower of the old Wleń castle (1881/1881) by Jan KrajewskiOssoliński National Institute
In 1881, “Tygodnik Ilustrowany” published the following description of the Wleń Castle: “Before us lies the former castle courtyard, where a square tower with a gate and a drawbridge used to stand. Every footstep thuds hard here...
…for tall maples and numerous bushes have taken deep roots in the place of the once magnificent buildings. The only witness to the past are the ruins of this castle tower, a former watchtower...".
Przygotowanie tekstu:
dr Piotr Sroka, (Departments of Periodicals, the National Ossoliński Institut)
Photographs prepared by:
Andrzej Niedźwiecki, copy and photo workroom, the National Ossoliński Institute.
The origin of the collection:
Departments of Periodicals, the National Ossoliński Institut
